MHEC produces research and analysis that helps state policymakers and institutional leaders strengthen postsecondary education systems across the Midwest and beyond. Research publications address in the following areas:
Midwest Postsecondary Education Value and Opportunities provides the first-ever comprehensive regional analysis of perceptions of higher education among Midwestern adults who have not yet earned a degree or credential.
An exploration of how states currently track post-college outcomes and the potential opportunities for improving state data capabilities.
A look at national and Midwest state trends in teacher graduate degree attainment with an emphasis on master’s degrees.
A look at the features that distinguish college promise programs from traditional grant aid programs plus a view of promise programs in the 12 Midwestern states
A supplement to the Higher Education in Focus 2019, providing the latest data related to education attainment for each MHEC state.
A report examining state-funded loan forgiveness and conditional grant programs, designed to alleviate student loan debt and address workforce shortages.
A discussion of the evolving landscape of student record access and its impact on educational success, with emphasis on the importance of student transcripts.
A look at the impact of out-of-state tuition premiums and an outline of regional approaches to reducing premiums.
A look at how Midwestern states allocate funding to public colleges and universities, the tradeoffs of approaches, the effects of different funding mechanisms.
An examination of whether state funding for higher education are associated with college graduation rates based on freshman cohorts at most public four-year institutions in the U.S.
A report on state-level projections of postsecondary enrollment, credential production, and the college-educated population to inform the Illinois strategy.
An analysis of the digital divide on college students during the COVID-19 pandemic and the efforts of institutions and state legislation to bridging the divide.
A look at student borrowing over time, differences among demographic groups, and policy initiatives that might help students who need more support.
A report on key performance indicators for evaluating educational systems in MHEC member states.
An analysis of higher education spending relative to personal income, population, and total tax revenue.
An overview of state grant programs and whether they are the primary form of financial aid awarded by states in the Midwest.
A policy brief examining the changes in federal student loan interest rates over time, the wide variation in interest rates for state-sponsored student loans, and rates for private loans.
A report on the ongoing escalation of college textbook costs and the benefits and challenges of more affordable options.
A brief examining the root causes of tuition increases in higher education, including rising costs, declining subsidies, and an increased reliance on tuition discounting.
A report exploring policy options and strategies for bolstering graduate education programs and encourage high school teachers to complete relevant graduate coursework.
A policy brief on the attributes and prevalence of Child Savings Accounts across the national and their potential effects on the education pipeline.
A chapter from "Assessing Quality in Postsecondary Education" on indicators used to evaluate educational quality.
An examination of the various ways that states attempt to limit tuition and fee increases at colleges and universities.
A brief detailing the effects of three well-known college promise programs in the Midwest and considerations when designing promise programs.
Several research reports elaborating statistical methods for measuring the extent to which institutions are effective and efficient in facilitating degree completion.
An examination of the prevalence of graduate degrees among teachers in the U.S.
A brief reviewing research on the effects of teacher certification and preparation programs in relation to student performance and teacher outcomes.
A review of research on the relationship between NBPTS certification and teacher outcomes and student achievement.
A brief addressing four areas in which state policymakers can learn to strengthen higher education financing systems from practices in other states and from sound public policy design.
A research brief on mental health issues and counseling services on college campuses.
An overview of student success software and findings from the nascent body of student outcomes research.
A brief summarizing the findings of working papers on timely degree completion.
